Pigeon Forge/Wears Valley - I want to hear from the locals (Knoxville: work)

[Jojowhite]

My husband and I and our children LOVE the mountains and the Pigeon Forge/Wears Valley area. We have a cabin in Pigeon Forge and go to this area once or twice every year and have done so for years!
I would love to hear from the locals about actually living in the area. We dream of moving there. We would not want to live in town but in the mountains within 20 minutes of the main drag. We have been there a ton so we realize the traffic there is due to tourists however we've gone there enough times to know the back routes so the traffic issue really is not an issue to us.

I'd love to hear any of the following:

1)How long you've lived in the area
2) Your favorite things about living in the area.
3) What you don't like.
4) If there are areas close by that you feel are better areas for young families.
5) Special locally known benefits of living in Sevier County
6)Favorite playgrounds/parks/activities for young families in the area.
Thanks so much!
Joanna

[jabogitlu]

I lived in Knoxville for a while. Never lived in Sevier County. I would probably not live in Sevier County unless it was Pittman Center.

I'm not sure why anyone would live in Pigeon Forge or Sevierville. So much traffic!

If you want to be in that area, I'd always say Strawberry Plains!!! A lot further removed from traffic, a lot closer to downtown Knoxville.

[JMT]

As usual, I agree with jabogitlu. I would never in a million years live in the traffic nightmare that is Sevier County. Maybe for those who have lived in other touristy areas like Orlando or Myrtle Beach the traffic in Sevier County isn't so bad. But for those of us who remember what it was like just 20 years ago, it's enough to make me cry.

Seymour got my vote. Yes, it's partly in Sevier County but it's also partly in Blount County and partly in Knox County. From Seymour you're just a quick hop to Sevierville and downtown Knoxville, and there's very little traffic for some reason.

[Jojowhite]

Thanks so much for the responses as far as living in Pigeon Forge/Wears Valley area. I appreciate your insight.
I'd love to hear from a few more people on this!

Thanks so much!

[Eat]

Seymour area, but in Sevier County, as they have some of the lowest taxes around. Sevierville Or P.F., not on a bet.

[jpuppychow]

We are visiting in Wears Valley right now. Saw your post and wondered since you've been to this area frequently, do you know of any kids' parks or playground areas that aren't affiliated with resorts? We are renting a cabin on Cove's Mountain and would like to let the kids play outside safely locally. Look forward to your reply! Thanks! Jennifer

[Eat]

What's wrong with the outdoors around the cabin?

[jpuppychow]

Originally Posted by Eat

What's wrong with the outdoors around the cabin?

The cabin is on the side of a mountain with very little flat area. My oldest child is 4 and youngest is 15 months. Not up for anyone tumbling down the mountainside! Wanted to find a local playground to let them really run around when we aren't on the road to another tourist destination!!

[ausblake]

I live in Seymour right now and only because I mainly work in the Knox, Blount and Loudon areas. If I worked mainly in Sevier County I would live in Pigeon Forge in a heartbeat. I spend alot of time down there and you really have to work the backroads. Almost all the attractions give Sevier County residents discounts. Sometimes very significant. Dollywood does a Sevier County week where every person living in the county can come one day on the house. I love it. I work for myself so I am trying to focus more on the SV, PF, GB area where I can move on down closer.